Portable dance floor or mat



Nm; 5, E935.. H, B. MUELLER Zw PORTABLE DANCE FLOOR OR MAT Filed June 18, 1954 Patented Nov. Y5', 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a portable dance fioor or mat and has for its principal objects, the pro- Vision of a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive dance floor or mat that is composed of a plurality of sections connected by hinges so that said sections may be folded flat against each other in order to occupy as little space as possible when the floor or mat is packed for storage or transportation and to provide simple and eflicient means whereby any number of the hinge connected mat sections may be assembled and secured to each other to form a dance iioor of any desired size.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a dance floor or mat that may be con- Veniently folded and transported from one point to another, which oor or mat when unfolded for use presents a smooth, finished surface, further, to provide a folding portable dance floor or mat 'that has two finished surfaces, thereby enabling the oor or mat to be reversed for use and consequently doubling its life or period of usefulness.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide an improved form of hinge for connecting the folding sections of the iioor or mat and to provide simple and eihcient means for detachably connecting the edges of the floor or mat to each other when an enlarged dance iloor or mat is provided.

With the foregoing and other objects in View my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in Which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dance floor or mat constructed in accordance with my invention and composed of three sections, also showing the end portion of an adjacent floor or mat.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing one of the floor or mat sections swung into position beneath the intermediate section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the joint between two of the floor or mat sections.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational View taken looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in detail and showing the hook that is utilized for securing the edges of two of the floor or mat members to each other.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on theline I-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a member that forms a part of the securing means illustrated in Figs. 6 and'.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown my improved dance floor or mat composed of three sections or panels which are designated A, B and C, said panels being identical in size and practically similar in construction.

The panels may be of any desired size, although as illustrated I prefer to form the panels so that the length of 'each panel equals the width of two panels, for such measurements facilitate the assembly of a number of the oors or mats when an enlarged dance floor is produced.

Each section or panel is composed of a plurality of strips I B of relatively thin material such as hard wood laid edge to edge.

Formed in two adjacent edges of each section or panel, are grooves I I, preferably V-shape and formed on the other two edges of the panel, are corresponding V-shaped ribs I2 that are adapted to enter the grooves II when a number of the floor or mat sections are assembled.

The inner edges of the panels A and C are connected to the adjacent edges of intermediate panel B by hinges that are identical in construction, but when the hinges are applied to the panels, one pair, for instance, the pair that connect the panels B and C are reversed or turned upside down with respect to the hinges that connect panels A and B and which arrangement is necessary in order to permit panel A to be folded over onto the top of panel B and for panel C to be folded into `position beneath intermediate panel B.

Thus the three panels forming the oor or mat section may be folded so as to occupy comparatively little space when the section is packed for each pair of hinge members I3 is a pair of hinge 40 links I e.

` The hinges when applied to the panels are arranged so that their outer surfaces are ush with the surfaces of said panels.

In order to firmly hold the strips IIJ in assembled relation, rods I5, preferably of wire, extend transversely through the strips adjacent to the ends of the panels, both ends of said rods being threaded for the reception of nuts I6 and the latter being provided in their edges with diametrically opposite notches Il for the reception of a spanner wrench that is used for the manipulation of said nuts.

The outer edges of the panels A and C are notched or recessed as designated by I8 for the reception of the nuts I6 and the central portions of the adjacent edges of the hinge members I3 between the links I4, are notched as designated by I9 for the reception of the correspondingnuts.

Formed in the central portion ofthe end of each panel A, B and C at the end from which the ribs I2 project, are recesses 2l] for the accommodation of the hooks that serve to unite the floor or mat sections when a number of the same are assembled to form a large dance oor and a pair of such recesses 2B are formed in the edge of panel A, along which the rib I2 is formed.

Each hoo-k constructed as illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises a body plate 2|, on one end of which is formed a hook 22 and formed in plate 2|, is a substantially T-shaped opening 23.

Occupying the longitudinal leg of the opening 23, is a square block 24 and formed integral with the ends thereof, are trunnions 25 that are mounted for rotation in bushings 26, the latter being seated in the walls of the panels above and below the recess 2S.

Formed through the trunnions 25 and block 24, is a non-circular opening 2l for the reception of the key that is utilized in turning the hooks from one position to another.

Positioned in the transverse portion of the ope-ning 23 in each hook and bearing against one of the faces of the corresponding block 24, is a bow spring 28.

Formed in the cnds of the panels opposite from the ends in which the recesses 2i] are formed and in direct longitudinal alignment therewith, and also in the edge of panel C, and in alignment with the recesses that are formed in the edge of panel A for the accommodation of the hooks, are recesses 36 for the accommodation of the hooks 22 when the same are swung outwardly from their pockets 2o.

Seated in the paneis and passing through these recesses, are pockets .'ia and pins 3|, which are engaged by the hooks when a number of the floor or mat sections are assembled.

Each hooi: 22 is provided with a notch 32 for the reception of the pin 3| and the outer one of .the edges 33 of the opening in the hook which leads to the notch 32 is formed eccentric to the axis of the block 251 and trunnions 25 so that when the hook is swung outward to engage the corresponding pin 3 I, said hook will be moved slightly lengthwise against the resistance offered by bow spring 28 so as to exert pulling strains on said hook when the engaged pin 3| is seated in the notch 32.

As a result of this arrangement the floor or mat sections are firmly held in assembled relation when a large dance floor or mat is formed.

While the hooks are not in use they are swung into the pockets 2l, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 and to swing said hooks outward a key is inserted in the opening 2S in the block and trunnion member 2li, 25 and the latter partially rotated so as to impart corresponding movement to the hook.

The length of each panel A, B and C is exactly twice its Width and as the hooks and pins at the ends of said panels are located midway between the side edges of said panels and the pins in the outer edge of panel C and the hooks carried by the outer edge of panel A are spaced from the corners of saidv panels the proper distances, it is a very easy matter to assemble a number of the iioor or mat sections to form a relatively large dance floor.

The hinged panels forming each section of a dance floor or mat may be readily folded together into a comparatively small compass so that the sections are readily portable and may be conveniently transported from one place to another and the sections are reversible so as to provide two smooth dancing surfaces.

Any number of sections may be assembled to form a relatively large dance floor and the fastening means between sections may be conveniently manipulated to securely hold the sections in assembled relation.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a portable dance floor or mat that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved portable dance floor or mat may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a portable dance oor or mat, a unit composed of three panels oi equal size, channelshaped members positioned on the inner edges of the end panels and on the side edges of the intermediate panel and hinge links connecting the respective pairs of channel-shaped members and arranged so that one of the end panels may be swung into position beneath the intermediate panel and the other end panel swung into position above the intermediate panel.

2. In a portable dance floor or mat, a unit composed of three panels, hinges connecting the inner side edges of the end panels with the side edges of the intermediate panel, the outer side edges of one panel and the corresponding edges of all of the panels at one end being provided with recesses, blocks mounted for rotation in said recesses, a hook carried by each block and mounted to rotate therewith and slide thereon and a spring for yieldingly resisting the sliding movement of the hook in one direction.

3. In a portable dance licor or mat, a unit composed of three panels, hinges connecting the inner side edges of the end panels with the side edges of the intermediate panel, the outer side edges of one panel and the corresponding edges of all of the panels at one end being provided with recesses, blocks mounted for rotation in said recesses, a hook carried by each block and mounted to rotate therewith and slide thereon, a spring for yieldingly resisting the sliding movement of the hook in one direction, all of which hooks project beyond the edges of the panels, the outer side edge of the panel opposite the panel in the side edge o1 which certain of the hooks are seated and the ends of all of the panels opposite the ends in which hooks are seated being recessed for the reception of the projecting ends of hooks on the panels of adjacent units and pins passing through said last mentioned recesses for the reception of the hooks that are inserted therein. Y

4. In a portable dance floor mat, a unit composed o-f three panels, hinges connecting the inner side edges of the end panels with the side edges of the intermediate panel, hooks mounted for partial rotarywand for sliding movement in the outer edge of one ci' said panels and in the corresponding end edges of all of the panels, the opposite end edges of all of the panels and the side edge of the panel opposite from the panel in the side edge of which the hooks are seated, being recessed and pins passing through said recesses for lthe reception of hooks that project `from the edges of adjacent units.

HERBERT B. MUELLER. 

